Author: GANUX

 

Pep Guardiola has revealed the Manchester City hierarchy support his desire to slash his underachieving squad next season regardless of their last-day bid to qualify for the Champions League.

 

The deposed champions head to Fulham on Sunday needing one point to be certain of avoiding a first season without Champions League action since 2010/11.

 

With the top five in the Premier League guaranteed to reach Europe’s elite club competition, City are two points clear of sixth-placed Aston Villa with a vastly superior goal difference.

 

Defeat in London could spell disaster after their shock FA Cup final loss against Crystal Palace last week.

 

But whatever happens at Craven Cottage, City manager Guardiola is convinced he must work with a smaller group next season.

 

Speaking after Tuesday’s win against Bournemouth, the City boss threatened to quit if he was unable to reduce the squad because it was “impossible for my soul” to make so many players unhappy by leaving them out.

 

But on Friday he played down his threat to resign and insisted he has the support of his employers to cut his squad.

 

“I was laughing when I said that,” Guardiola said. “I’m not going to quit. But the expression is the same, I don’t want players at home with their families when the team is playing.

 

“In the last three weeks, we had four, five or six players at home — that is not healthy for any of us, for them especially, for me and the club.

 

“The club knows it and agrees with me. We will find a solution. Everyone has to have the chance to compete.”

 

City started the season gunning for a fifth straight Premier League title but have been reduced to fighting for a Champions League berth.

But at the end of his first trophyless campaign since 2016/17, Guardiola is relieved his team have their Champions League fate in their own hands.

 

“It’s been a really tough season,” he said. “I knew it would come down to the last day in the 95th minute and I was not wrong.”

 

The City boss has already decided to let midfielder Kevin De Bruyne leave when his contract expires at the end of the season and more changes are certain.

“I’m completely focused on Sunday and after the club will take the decisions they have to take,” he said.

 

Guardiola also said he wants to help Phil Foden after the winger admitted he has struggled mentally this season.

 

Foden, left out of the England squad on Friday, has been hampered by an ankle injury, failing to recapture the form he showed last season, when he was voted by his fellow professionals as player of the year.

 

“We want to help him and that’s the most important thing,” said Guardiola.

 

“I don’t care about his performance, I just want him to feel good because then the rest will come in an easy way.”

 

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has asked all commissioners and political appointees in his cabinet to either join him in defecting to the All Progressives Congress or step down from their positions.

 

According to a video shared by Channels TV on Friday, the governor spoke during a State Executive Council meeting on Thursday.

 

Eno confirmed his planned defection to the APC and made it clear that only those willing to join him would remain in his government.

 

“It’s no more news that I’m moving party. If you don’t know that by now, I don’t know what else you know,” Eno said.

 

He stressed that loyalty to him as governor was essential, adding that anyone unwilling to align politically should prepare to resign the day he formally announces his move.

 

“I am told that some of you are saying that you will not come, you are free, absolutely free, not to join me, but you won’t be in my state executive council.

“So, you better just be prepared to resign the day I announce that I’m moving because you are an appointee and your loyalty is to me.

 

“You can’t be in my cabinet and play anti-party, it’s not a threat, it is what it is. I won’t beg you to come, you should normally not even expect it,” he stated.

 

Eno cited ongoing internal issues within the Peoples Democratic Party as part of his reason for leaving, saying he could no longer trust the party’s ability to ensure a smooth electoral process.

 

Eno added, “I love the PDP, I want to stay in the PDP, but clearly, I don’t have a road map to guarantee that I’ll be able to have a smooth sail in the elections, not because we won’t win elections.

 

“In this state today, with the work that all of us have done, even if we contest on a zero party, we will win this election. There’s no doubt about it. We’ve worked very hard, but we know that at the national level, that our party is not coming together.

 

“Every day, secretary this and that, and so you take your form, they send it to INEC, and then you run all the elections, you perhaps win the elections and just on technical grounds, because the wrong person signed your form, you lose everything.”

 

 

Gaza’s civil defence agency said Israeli strikes killed at least 16 people on Friday across the Palestinian territory, where Israel has ramped up its military offensive in recent days.

 

The toll from “Israeli strikes in various areas across the Gaza Strip since midnight” totalled 16 dead, agency official Mohammed al-Mughayyir told AFP.

 

He said there were also dozens of people wounded in the attacks, which mainly hit the centre and south of the territory.

 

In Gaza’s north, Al-Awda hospital reported Friday that three of its staff were injured “after Israeli quadcopter drones dropped bombs” on the facility.

The Israeli army said that over the past day, its forces had attacked “military compounds, weapons storage facilities and sniper posts” in Gaza.

 

“In addition, the (air force) struck over 75 terror targets throughout the Gaza Strip,” it added.

 

Aid began trickling into the Gaza Strip on Monday for the first time in more than two months, amid mounting condemnation of an Israeli blockade that has sparked severe shortages of food and medicine.

 

COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry body that oversees civil affairs in the Palestinian territories, said that on Thursday, 107 humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza.

The UN’s World Food Programme said the following day that 15 of its trucks “were looted late last night in southern Gaza, while en route to WFP-supported bakeries.”

 

WFP executive director Cindy McCain had previously said some aid was finally reaching Gazans, “but it’s moving far too slowly.”

 

Israel resumed major operations in Gaza on March 18, ending a two-month ceasefire.

 

On Friday, Gaza’s health ministry said at least 3,673 people had been killed in the territory since then, taking the war’s overall toll to 53,822, mostly civilians.

 

Hamas’s October 2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

 

Militants also took 251 hostages, 57 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34, the Israeli military says, are dead.

 

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti wished the man set to replace him, Xabi Alonso, “all the luck in the world” on Friday, before taking charge of his final game at the club.

 

Bayer Leverkusen coach Alonso is set to take over ahead of the Club World Cup although Madrid have not yet named him officially as their next coach.

 

Ancelotti spoke before Saturday’s match at the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Sociedad in La Liga, his last game before taking the reins of the Brazil national team.

 

“I don’t want to advise because everyone has their idea about football,” Ancelotti told a news conference.

 

“Xabi is the first (to come after me), I wish him all the luck in the world, because he is a coach who has the characteristics to coach this club, this team — enjoy it.”

 

Former Real Madrid midfielder Alonso, 43, won the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen in 2024 after a stunning unbeaten season, along with the German Cup.

 

Ancelotti has coached Madrid for six seasons, split across two spells at the club, winning 15 trophies.

 

The coach lifted the Champions League three times with Madrid, as well as two La Liga titles and two Copas del Rey.

 

Ancelotti said he expected his final match at the helm to be an emotional day.

 

The 65-year-old said he expected his final match at the helm to be an emotional day.

 

“I have it in my genetics that I get emotional very quickly, because my grandfather did that, and my father too, so it will be a very emotional day tomorrow,” continued Ancelotti.

 

“I have no problem if I end up crying, no problem at all, I will not hide it in that sense. It will be a beautiful day.”

 

Saturday will also be midfielder Luka Modric’s last game at the Santiago Bernabeu, with the Croatian to play in the Club World Cup in the United States before leaving Madrid.

 

“I’m sharing it with Luka,” said Ancelotti.

“He has been a spectacular help in this era at Real Madrid, he is fantastic, a legend, and saying goodbye along with him seems nice to me.”

– ‘Eternal’ bond –

 

The coach also posted an open letter on social media to say goodbye, saying his bond with Real Madrid was “eternal”.

 

“I carry in my heart every moment experienced in this wonderful second spell as Real Madrid coach,” wrote Ancelotti.

 

“They’ve been unforgettable years, an incredible journey full of emotions, trophies and, above all, the pride of representing this badge…

 

“My bond with Real Madrid is eternal.”

 

Real Madrid confirmed Ancelotti was departing earlier Friday, a year before his contract ends, nearly two weeks after Brazil announced the Italian will coach their national team from this summer onwards.

 

“Our club wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for a man who is a true legend of both Real Madrid and world football,” said Los Blancos in a statement.

 

“Carlo Ancelotti will forever be part of the great Madridista family,” said Madrid president Florentino Perez.

 

“We feel incredibly honoured to have had the chance to enjoy a coach who has helped us achieve so much success, but who has also embodied our club’s values in such exemplary fashion.”

 

Ancelotti helped Madrid win their 10th Champions League title in 2014, during his first spell at the club from 2013-2015.

 

The coach returned in 2021 and helped them win Europe’s top competition in 2022 and 2024.

 

Having won two with AC Milan, Ancelotti is the coach who has won the most Champions League trophies with five.

 

Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser, disclosed on Thursday that the sit-at-home orders enforced by terrorist groups in the South-East are steadily losing their impact.

 

Ribadu made these remarks during a presentation on the security achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration at the All Progressives Congress national summit.

 

According to the NSA, the current administration inherited five major security challenges across the country: the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-East; armed banditry in the North-West; secessionist agitations by the Indigenous People of Biafra and the Eastern Security Network in the South-East; unrest in the Niger Delta; and communal as well as herder-farmer conflicts in the North-Central region.

 

Ribadu stated that, through coordinated efforts, security agencies have succeeded in curbing mass killings, kidnappings, and destruction caused by criminal groups nationwide.

 

Highlighting some of the administration’s achievements, the NSA revealed that more than 13,543 Boko Haram insurgents have been neutralised over the past two years, with over 11,000 weapons recovered and destroyed.

 

He further disclosed that 124,408 Boko Haram fighters and their family members have surrendered to security forces since the commencement of the Tinubu administration.

Despite some setbacks, he noted that military operations are ongoing in the Timbuktu Triangle, Tumbu Islands, and other strongholds.

 

Ribadu said, “In the South-East, a welcome development is that the sit-at-home orders are becoming increasingly ineffective.

 

Key IPOB/ESN figures have been captured or neutralised. Over 50 police stations and numerous police posts have been rebuilt.

 

Attacks on security forces have significantly reduced, and social and economic activities are normalising.

 

In the North-West, it has been a watershed year in the fight against banditry, with 11,250 hostages freed and a decline in mass abductions.

 

Decisive blows have been dealt to top warlords such as Ali Kachalla, Boderi, Halilu Sububu, Dangote, Isuhu Yellow, and Damuna.”

 

Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has admitted it would be a “huge disappointment” if his side fail to secure qualification for the Champions League as they prepare for their final Premier League fixture of the season against Everton on Sunday.

 

Howe’s team knows that a victory at St James’ Park would effectively guarantee a top-five finish.

 

Currently fourth in the table on 66 points, Newcastle sit ahead of Chelsea and Aston Villa on goal difference, with seventh-placed Nottingham Forest a further point behind.

 

The Magpies are eager to cap a memorable campaign by returning to the Champions League after a one-year absence.

 

Howe’s squad has already ended a 56-year trophy drought with their victory over Liverpool in the League Cup final, and securing a lucrative place in Europe’s premier club competition would be the perfect crowning achievement.

 

“Football emotions swing so quickly. In that moment, it will feel like a huge disappointment because we have been in there fighting for two-thirds of the season,” Howe said on Friday.

 

“If we miss out, it will be a tough one to take. We know what we need to do and what we want to do. All our emotions are focused on that.”

When asked whether it was important for Saudi-owned Newcastle to compete in the Champions League due to the financial rewards, Howe replied: “Everyone talks about finances and I understand why because that is important.

 

“But for us, it’s about wanting to play against the best teams in the best competition. To try to win those competitions—that is why you compete in them.”

 

Newcastle’s hopes of overcoming Everton will be greatly enhanced if Sweden striker Alexander Isak returns from injury.

 

Isak missed last weekend’s defeat at Arsenal with a groin problem, and Howe said he was unsure whether his leading scorer would be fit to face Everton.

 

“We’d love him to be fit and available for the game,” Howe said. “He has to be free in his movement and everything because he’s that kind of player, he’s electric at his best. So let’s see.

 

“We’ll only play him if he’s fit to contribute, but at the moment he has an opportunity, potentially.”

 

AFP

 

The European Union on Thursday identified Nigeria among several countries posing significant concerns over intellectual property rights violations, placing it alongside China, India, Türkiye, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand on its latest priority watch list.

 

The EU’s Trade and Economic Security Commission, in its biennial report on the Protection and Enforcement of IPR in Third Countries, warned that counterfeiting and piracy are causing serious harm to the European economy.

 

In 2023, EU customs seized 17.5m counterfeit items worth nearly €811m at its borders. Online piracy was also reported to be on the rise.

 

Highlighting the economic stakes, the commission noted that IPR-intensive industries contribute nearly half of the EU’s annual GDP and over 80 percent of its exports.

 

These industries are vital for sustainable job creation and economic stability.

 

The report classified China as the top concern for the EU, followed by India and Türkiye.

 

Nigeria, alongside Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand, falls into the third priority group.

 

“China remains a top priority for EU efforts to protect the Intellectual Property Rights of its businesses, innovators or creators, followed closely by India and Türkiye as second priority countries. Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Indonesia, Nigeria and Thailand are third priority countries,” it added.

 

The EU acknowledged some progress in Nigeria, including efforts to strengthen its IP regime through legislative reforms such as the new Nigeria Customs Service Act and the implementation of a national IP policy launched in 2022.

 

However, it expressed concern that these measures have yet to deliver sufficient results.

 

A significant issue cited was the failure to pass the Industrial Property Commission Bill introduced in 2016, which aimed to harmonise existing IP laws and establish a national industrial property commission.

The EU noted that without incorporating international agreements like the TRIPS Agreement into national law, Nigeria’s IP framework remains inadequate.

 

The report also criticised the slow and outdated administrative processes in the Nigerian Patents and Designs Registry, which hinder the registration of trademarks and certification marks.

 

It pointed out that Nigeria lacks a dedicated system for registering Geographical Indications, further complicating protection.

“Nigeria continues to implement its National Intellectual Property Policy And Strategy adopted in 2022, which seeks to promote a comprehensive IP ecosystem as a catalyst for harnessing the full potential of IPR for socio-cultural development and sustainable economic growth,” it stressed.

 

In the area of copyright enforcement, stakeholders noted high levels of online piracy and a lack of transparency among collective management organisations.

 

While legislative changes have introduced new measures such as the Online Copyright Inspectors Unit, their effectiveness remains to be seen.

 

The commission further highlighted Nigeria’s role as a gateway for counterfeit goods entering West Africa, particularly through its seaports.

 

These goods include counterfeit medicines, electronics, and fashion items, many of which originate from China.

 

“Nigeria’s major seaports serve as maritime gateways for the import of counterfeit products, including counterfeit medical products, mainly into West Africa. Nigeria is a transit point for fake electronics and electrical equipment manufactured in China for re-export to other West African countries,” it further stated.

 

Other obstacles undermining enforcement include limited funding, poor training of enforcement personnel, and insufficient infrastructure, especially within the judiciary.

 

Courts often lack the technological tools and expertise to handle complex IP cases, leading to inconsistent rulings, the reported noted.

 

The Coalition of United political parties has described the Thursday endorsement of President Bola Tinubu as the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election by the forum of All Progressives Congress governors as a desperate bid for power and a panic measure.

 

The coalition, in a statement issued on Thursday night by its National Secretary, Peter Ameh, stated that the adoption had raised serious concerns among Nigerians.

 

“The recent motion at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Summit, where the Governor of Imo State and Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum moved for President Bola Tinubu to be adopted as the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, seconded by Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State, has raised significant concerns among Nigerians.

 

“This unprecedented move, just two years into President Tinubu’s term, signals deep unease within the APC camp amid widespread public dissatisfaction with the harsh economic realities facing the nation.

 

“The adoption of Tinubu as the sole candidate for 2027 does not reflect the will of the Nigerian people, whose votes will ultimately determine the outcome of the election,” he said.

He said the decision by APC elected officials appeared to stem from fear of rejection by the electorate, who he said were grappling with severe economic challenges.

 

“Nigerians across the country view this move as a troubling indication of the APC’s disconnect from the masses and an attempt to undermine the democratic process.

 

“We wish to make it clear that the events of the 2023 elections were merely a precursor to the collective resolve of the people. We stand united in our commitment to resist any attempts to manipulate, steal, or rig the 2027 elections.

 

“The Nigerian electorate will not be silenced, and we will ensure that our voices are heard through the power of our votes.

 

“We call on all Nigerians to remain vigilant and steadfast in defending our democracy. The 2027 elections will be a defining moment for our nation, and we will not allow the will of the people to be subverted,” he added.

 

President Bola Tinubu, on Thursday, said he was expecting more politicians to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

 

The President, who said he was happy with what his administration and the party had achieved, said he did not expect people to remain in “a sinking ship without a life jacket.”

 

He said defection was part of the game.

 

According to a statement on Thursday by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, the President spoke at the APC Renewed Hope Agenda Summit, held at the State House Conference Centre on Thursday.

 

Tinubu addressed party leaders, the National Working Committee, the leadership of the National Assembly, and the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which comprises 22 governors.

 

All of them collectively endorsed him for a second term.

 

The President said his administration’s focus on economic reforms for long-term gains has continued to receive positive reviews from within and outside the country.

 

“A one-party system is not suitable for democracy. We are one party ruling and carrying on with the aspirations of Nigerians.

 

“You don’t expect people to remain in a sinking ship without a life jacket. I am happy with what we have accomplished and expecting more people to come; that’s the game,” he was qouted as saying.

 

The President said citizens have the constitutional right to choose between associations.

 

“I thank every one of you. I am thoroughly inspired. We are just halfway through the journey that started 24 months ago,” he said.

 

The President thanked members of the Federal Executive Council for courageously pursuing the vision of a better Nigeria and the party leadership and National Assembly for their support.

 

“Together, we pledged to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on by rebuilding the trust, fostering prosperity and restoring our nation’s economic quest.

 

“Today, I am proud to affirm that our economic reforms are working. Nothing good comes easy in life. All of you have been through life, and sometimes, only hard decisions can make things easy in the future.

“We couldn’t just afford to spend the future of our children and unborn babies.

“Through our Renewed Hope Agenda, our administration pledged to tackle economic instability, improve security nationwide, reduce corruption, reform governance, and lift our people out of poverty.

 

“How fast could you have rebuilt this country? If you allow the arbitrage in the exchange rate to continue, that is the grandfather of corruption. You could see EFCC recover over seven hundred and fifty-something houses from one person,” he said.

 

The President admitted that the reforms were tough decisions but assured Nigerians they were necessary.

 

“Yes, we encountered challenges when we assumed office in May 2023, but we have made progress by implementing difficult, long overdue but necessary economic reforms.

 

“We have eliminated the arbitrage-driven multiple foreign exchanges, and our far-reaching tax reforms are coming.

 

“Because of the reforms, our country now attracts foreign direct investments that will ultimately create jobs and produce much-needed goods and services that will significantly improve the standard of living of our people,” he said.

 

In his remarks, the Progressives Governors Forum Chairman and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, said the President had provided inspiring and visionary leadership and deserved a second term in 2027.

 

He thus moved a motion passing a vote of confidence in the President and endorsing him for the 2027 race, which was seconded by the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani.

 

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, also praised the President for purposeful and inclusive leadership.

 

The leaders of the National Assembly said they would support the President for a second term in office and also moved a motion to endorse him.

 

The APC Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje, who led the NWC members to endorse President Tinubu for a second term, said the President would be the party’s sole candidate for the 2027 presidential elections.

 

“I urge all members to reject internal sabotage. Engage communities, listen to citizens, and build a political structure beyond elections,” the former Kano governor added.

 

Ganduje urged members to renew their commitment to the principles that united the party and inspired its formation.

“Let us rally behind President Bola Tinubu, support our policies, and deliver the Renewed Hope Nigerians rightfully deserve,” he stated.

 

PUNCH Online reports that the ruling party convened the summit to review the administration’s two-year performance across key economic sectors, including health, infrastructure and security.